Dear Colleague,
Happy New Year! As we enter our 26th year of striving for health equity, the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved has been inspired and humbled by the incredible commitment our members and network have made to achieving a better, more equitable future for underserved communities despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Join Our NHSC Pipeline TA Initiative as an Advisor or Mentor
ACU is recruiting National Health Service Corps (NHSC) members and alumni who are interested in advising or mentoring in our new NHSC Pipeline Readiness Technical Assistance Initiative with the Bureau of Health Workforce and Abt Associates. This initiative will help prepare NHSC pipeline participants to serve communities with longstanding health needs, building their resiliency and capacity to address the root causes of health inequities. We are seeking NHSC members and alumni to serve on committees, participate in trainings and technical assistance, and mentor new NHSC pipeline participants. Learn more and sign up.
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One Week Left: Apply for Our Strategic Workforce Planning for HP-ET Retention & Recruitment Learning Collaborative by Jan. 19
Recruiting and retaining providers is a challenge for health centers, and the pressures of the pandemic and Great Resignation have made it even more crucial for organizations to approach workforce development and “grow-your-own” efforts strategically. Join ACU's STAR² Center and Wipfli for a five-part learning collaborative to learn how to develop a Strategic Workforce Plan focusing on Health Professions Education & Training (HP-ET) strategies to enhance capabilities to recruit, develop, and retain provider workforces. The collaborative will take place from February-April 2022, and applications are due Jan. 19: learn more and apply!
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Join Our STAR² Center's PCA & HCCN Workforce Professional Development Series
Next Webinar: Wednesday, Feb. 16: 2-3 p.m. ET
If you missed December's session, there's still time to join the next webinar in our STAR² Center's workforce professional development series for workforce staff from primary care associations and health center-controlled networks. Through June 2022, this semi-monthly series will share insights from national experts on workforce action plans, using data in workforce planning, employee satisfaction, and more. Sign up now for these webinars designed to bolster workforce efforts at PCAs and HCCNs and help teams provide robust support for recruitment and retention at their health centers.
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Listen to the First Episode in Our STAR2 Center Podcast's New Season on Self-Care
We're excited to announce the release of the first episode in our STAR² Center Talks Workforce Success podcast's new season on employee self care! Join ACU's Helen Rhea Vernier for an insightful conversation on building organizationally supported employee self care for increased resiliency and retention with Sonia Lee, Program Director, Client Services and Grants, and Liam Spurgeon, Senior Project Manager, Communications and Engagement, at Health Outreach Partners (HOP). Stay tuned for more episodes, and don't forget to explore previous seasons covering COVID-19's impact on workforce and the role of chief workforce officers.
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Publication Explores Geriatric Suicide Prevention in Primary Care
ACU's new brief explores depression, mental health, and suicide in geriatric populations and how primary care providers and their teams can help. Accompanying our recent webinar on geriatric suicide prevention, this document details the scope of the crisis and provides evidence-based strategies for how primary care teams can help screen for warning signs and address risk of suicide in geriatric patients at health centers and other facilities. Read the brief or watch the archived webinar.
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In Case You Missed It: Read Our STAR2 Center's BPHC-Approved Definition of a Comprehensive Workforce Plan
Our STAR² Center’s recent publication provides a comprehensive workforce plan definition that has been reviewed and approved by the Bureau of Primary Health Care. The robust definition also outlines vital elements for health centers to consider in ongoing workforce planning, from visions and assessments to retention and recruitment strategies. We encourage health center teams to regularly revisit this dynamic document to help address the evolving needs of the workforce, patients, and community.
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Join the Movement to Advance Health Equity for Underserved Populations
ACU is proud to welcome Alliance Medical Center in CA as the latest Organizational Member in our community, and we hope you'll join them in becoming an ACU member! If you or your organization are committed to achieving health equity for all, we invite you to start your New Year by joining us as an Individual or Organizational Member. Learn about the solidarity, professional development opportunities, and other benefits of ACU membership and join us today.
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We're Hiring: Apply to Become Our New Deputy Director of Policy & Advocacy
We're seeking a new professional to join our mission-driven team and help support our policy and advocacy initiatives to expand ACU’s strategic visibility and inclusive community of organizations, clinicians, students, and advocates. The ideal candidate will have experience on Capitol Hill, excellent written and interpersonal communication skills, and a knowledge of government and regulatory agencies, public policy, and more. Learn more and apply or share this opportunity.
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Spotlight Your Strategies to Address SDOH in the SDOH Academy Innovations Showcase Competition
Join Tomorrow's Informational Kickoff Webinar
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There's Still Time: Apply for the NHSC's Loan Repayment Programs by Feb. 3
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) has extended the deadline for applications for its Loan Repayment Program (LRP), Substance Use Disorder Workforce LRP, and Rural Community LRP. Providing up to $100,000 in loan repayment aid in return for serving 2-3 years at facilities in health professional shortage areas (HPSAs), these programs are excellent opportunities for physicians, nurse practitioners, licensed clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and other professionals to pay off their loans while improving the health of underserved communities. Learn more and apply by Feb 3.
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Another Opportunity: Nurse Corps Applications Are Open
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Don't Miss the 2022 HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition
ACU is excited to be a collaborator of HIMSS22, and we invite you to register for the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society's (HIMSS) 2022 Conference. A premier global healthcare conference, HIMSS22 will explore the power of innovation to reimagine health through cutting-edge thought leadership and resources, policy, and networking. Digital, in-person, and hybrid attendance options are available, and ACU members will receive a discount! To receive the discount, visit the HIMSS website and select “Register Now," and then select our name from the “Conference Collaborating Organizations” drop down in the registration process and enter the code HIMSS22C.
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Needs Assessment Will Help Inform Resources to Strengthen the Dental Assistant Workforce
Our partners at the National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) are conducting a brief needs assessment to better understand the needs of health centers' dental assistant (DA) workforce. The results will inform the development of national resources to support the recruitment, retention, and training of DAs. Please consider taking this quick survey, intended for dental leadership and DAs in health centers, by January 31.
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In 2022, ACU remains here for you: if we can do anything to better support your work to improve care and advocate for patients who are underserved, please contact our Executive Director Amanda Pears Kelly with any feedback. Thank you for all that you do.
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